As I sat down, got quiet, and listened within I heard, “Rest…Just rest.”
“Rest! What do you mean rest!” I felt a wave of resistance well up. “I don’t even know what that means! Rest?”
Over two months ago, after I finally put an end to an insane relationship, one filled with deception on a scale I had never encountered, I began feeling the inner Voice strongly nudging me to rest. This Voice has many names–intuition, voice of God, gut feeling, and the still small voice to name only a few.
I have always heard this Voice, or this inner compass, to some extent, but after my first major mystical experience many years ago, it became much clearer. Over the last few months this Voice has become a bit different: I hear it almost all the time and it’s now both louder and softer if that’s possible. It fills me with joy, and after the hell I went through over the last several years, I have learned to trust it implicitly. I now walk with my ear pressed against its bosom, not wanting to go a moment without hearing its whispers. It has become a dear and constant companion, a true and trusted friend, my confidant, and guide in all ways. It is the same inner compass that abides within each of us and its language is joy (and allota humor).
The end of this relationship was the caboose to a much longer period filled with deep challenges as well as very profound spiritual experiences. My entire life had been flattened in a way that was unprecedented. I was badly in need of a lift so I was now listening to this Voice more intently and what I often heard was to rest. I wasn’t even quite sure what this meant, but I listened. As it turns out I was in desperate need of a rest enlargement.
How did I know it was that inner compass and to trust it? Because even on the heels of a relationship that sent shock waves through my life like I’ve never known, as well as other very deep challenges, and even while appearances were screaming that I should do anything but rest, it felt sublimely warm, cozy, safe, and in every way okay and permissible to just rest. It felt deeply right. (I’ll be writing many more posts in the near future on how to discern and listen to your inner compass.)
Sometimes Ya Just Need A Nap
To my surprise, at first I actually found myself taking long naps, and even had days where I quite literally could not keep my eyes open and slept until late afternoon. It wasn’t a feeling of depression, but more a feeling of relaxing into something much larger than I formerly knew. Like a little babe that, nestled in the arms of her mother, knows it’s safe to just sleep and be cared for.
I began to see support for this idea of resting everywhere–in books, in seminars, in conversations–but I was still unsure of its exact meaning. Nevertheless, I felt that I was being given permission to rest. It’s not that I didn’t see the dust bunnies cascading across the room like tumble weeds or the piles of dirty laundry. I would feel a momentary impulse to clean them but that inner nudge to rest would win out. (My arm didn’t need to be twisted too far where the laundry was concerned.)
Then without warning, I would find myself effortlessly moving from one household chore to another. I would start dusting with no plans of doing anything else, but soon I was pushing the vacuum around. Again, with no plans of doing anything beyond that, I would then find myself washing clothes. This would go on for some time; seamlessly going from one activity to another. And then just as quickly as it started, it would just stop, and I would go back to resting.
The same was happening with my work as a spiritual teacher and writer; sometimes I wouldn’t even make it out of my pajamas before a flurry of activity would come swooping in. There were phone calls for help, emails to answer, ideas would flood in for the blog and for the book, as well as other activities. Often it was late afternoon before I knew it, and then it would just come to a complete halt…calm again and more rest. I rested and trusted, and rested some more.
Your Inner Compass Wants to Carry You
When we listen to this inner compass, we are no longer relying on our own understanding. We are not looking to what we think needs to be done or not done according to what we think we need or even want. We are being carried when we listen to this Voice. I began to see that this “rest” had little to do with whether I was sleeping or there was a flood of activity; in both cases I was resting because in both I was being carried. I was no longer the one doing, deciding, or guiding but was being moved.
Our inner compass doesn’t just want to point us in the right direction it wants to carry us as well. Living in a state of true rest is one where we lie back and are willing to be moved by the gentle current found in this inner Voice of Joy. It’s where we stop trying to swim our self, according to what we think is best, or by our own efforts; we begin to relax our arms and legs and let it take us. It directs us and does the work. We become the beholder rather than the doer even when we appear to be doing a lot.
This cannot be done without trust. Few of us would be willing to let something carry us that we didn’t trust–that would make little sense. This trust is developed through practice and by seeing that any other approach is an attempt to swim against the current. Let’s face it, swimming against an omnipotent current is pretty futile and just leaves us banged up. At best, we’re left panting, heart racing, and exhausted, and realize that we’ve been swimming like mad but have gone nowhere. It looks downright silly if we’re able laugh through our tears. Understandably, we become more and more willing to listen and to be carried, and as we do this we learn through our own experience, for we are led in ways that are joyful. We also learn that when we don’t listen, we get nowhere and it plain hurts.
As it turns out “rest” is the practice of allowing ourself to be carried in whatever way that looks. We take our hands off the wheel. We become the adored and precious little child, the babe that is being lovingly cradled. It is to be in a state of rest where we are not the doer even when much is being done.
My new rest enlargement has implanted some really huge rest!
With that, I think I’ll take a little nappy.
Thank you for sharing this with us. You are truly an inspiration. I hope I can follow your lead and find my inner voice to lead me in a new direction that I desperately need to go. Thank you for being so open and honest with us. It is women like you that help us in need of direction find their place in this world. I wish you new beginnings and many blessing in the coming new year. You so deserve it.
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Love Princess. I send so many to my granddaughter. She just turned 21 and I sent the white dressed Princess to let her sparkle out!! She looks like Princess. Blond, thin, always smiling!!
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Thank you for this. I have a young friend that’s had a very hard past year and a half and know this will help her. I’m so glad I “found” you.
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You are an inspiration. I look forward to every post. Thank you for bearing your heart. Love the simplicity . You say it like you feel. Beautiful artwork. I have started to trust my intuition. My best friend. Thank you.
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You are a inspiration, you say it like you feel ! Look forward to every post. Learning to rely on my intuition my best friend. Thank you for bearing your heart.
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Hi Jane I just love Princess Sassy and her pup.
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Hi Jane. I recently discovered you on Facebook. Wow do I Love Sassy Pants and her pup. It reminds me of me and my pup Molly. I enjoyed reading about you and your Rest Enlargement. We have all gone through some struggles in our lives but to emerge from them into a place of joy is wonderful. Getting there is often a challenge but once you’re there you find inner peace and rest like you’ve never known. I personally live by The Serenity Prayer God Grant Me The Serenity To Accept The Things I Cannot Change Courage To Change The Things I Can And The Wisdom To Know The Difference. Thank you Jane for bringing Sassy and Rest into my life. You have another Fan to add to your list. God Bless. Sincerely Maureen and pup Molly
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I wish that I could order some of your drawings. I love them! Do you have posters or books?
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HI jane . Was remembering you
Miss u alot. Felt your spirit the moment I saw u first time – from the famous pakistani pimp
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do you have books for purchase
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You confirmed for me what I was supposed to be doing all along and now I am going to allow myself to rest. Thank you.
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Wow – amazing! I am going through some sort of a spiritual transformation and have spent a lot of my time in bed. Because I feel thats where I need to be. Your post gave me courage to listen to my inner voice. Thank you!
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Thank you for these beautiful words I do enjoy reading!!! Blessing.
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Just Thank You.
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Thank you Jane! I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I was able to find your blog especially at a time I’m going through right now. Your talk about rest and placing trust rings true to my heart and I’m surprised to see you talk about the inner compass when that’s what I’ve been referring to even before coming across your blog and posts. Thanks again, hope to stay connected!
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Is there a book to order? I simply adore all you do!
You are so very gifted. and I feel blessed to have found you!!
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I’ve been told over the years by mental health professionals that if you sleep all the time, don’t get off the couch or out of your pajamas, you’re depressed. And maybe in my case I was but it’s nice to hear a different perspective. I retired in Jan 2012 – my work was my life but it was time to go (that’s another story). My last day I left in the back of an ambulance @ 10 am with chest pains. Had worked until 2 am the day before. Like that really was going to matter. I guess I’m still bitter with how my career ended even though it was my decision to end it. Still seeing mental health professionals but I’ve ventured out-taking art lessons, want to start a blog, and find find my inner Voice of Joy! Thank you so much for sharing!
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Fabulous post Jane! It reminds me so much of myself … I had to teach myself to relax in recent times also … it was like I had completely forgotten how! I became a big ball of stress and it finally made me really ill … so I then learnt to slow down, relax, nap, sleep … and not have to be doing something all of the time.
I just came across your blog today, but am a big follower of your facebook page (us princesses need to stick together) … Getting over a relationship really takes an unidentified period of time … I know you will emerge out the other end of it oh so much better, for having listened to your inner voice … and it now leaves more room to attract what you want more of.
I look forward to your future posts! x
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I just “found” you through your comment on Lissa Rankin’s blog. I love this post and look forward to hearing and learning more from you. Thank you for sharing your self and your wisdom with the world.
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Thank you Joanna! I read your comment and I was filled with such a sense of gratitude! I literally had to fight back the tears. WHY I would fight back tears of gratitude is a whole other question? Hehe Thank you sooo much. I’m glad you came to visit.
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Jane, you write beautifully. I love how struggle has made you closer to your inner voice. I need constant reminders to listen and if it tells me to take a nap, to trust.
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I hear you Mary! It can seem very counterintuitive. Even when we finally start stretching our our arms and legs, and come out of hibernation there will be times we feel thrown back. It’s important to listen to this, grab our teddy bear, eat a cookie and snuggle up. Believe it or not, the world will still be revolving when we poke our head out again. And surprisingly, we often find we were carried a little farther upstream during our little snooze.
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Thank you so much for sharing… I’ve known this for a long time, yet always seem to need permission from others. I especially resonated with the movement from “chore” to “chore” with no intentions. I have the best days when I let that happen. big hugs
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Thank you Joy. Boy, do I love your name! Hehe
I hereby grant you a full permission slip to rest away…in Joy! Thank you for the hugs too!
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“I now walk with my ear pressed against its bosom, not wanting to go a moment without hearing its whispers. It has become a dear and constant companion, a true and trusted friend, my confidant, and guide in all ways. It is the same inner compass that abides within each of us and its language is joy (and allota humor).” ~love this and I totally FEEL it! Oh and the NAPS!!! hello. I call this voice my Inner Whisper and she has become my trusted friend. Thank you for sharing your experience of this voice…. May we all find our Inner Compass and begin to walk hand in hand with her.
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Hallelujah Allison! It’s amazing that our best guidance is that which feels really warm, cozy and joy filled! I love all that you share too BTW.
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“I now walk with my ear pressed against its bosom, not wanting to go a moment without hearing its whispers. It has become a dear and constant companion, a true and trusted friend, my confidant, and guide in all ways. It is the same inner compass that abides within each of us and its language is joy (and allota humor).” Um this an the naps…. I totally love this post. I call this My Inner Whisper….and she has become my most trusted friend. I love your experience of this voice and appreciate you sharing.
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Jane,
Thank you for this reminder to rest, especially rest when something traumatic has happened. Rest sounds so good I feel like curling up on my couch with the fireplace blazing and take that nap!
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I hope you had a beautiful nappy Melissa–complete with sugar plum fairies! Next time get really daring and throw in a cookie. Huge hugs!
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I love this post and it comes to me at the perfect time of course. Thank you for your honesty and sharing 🙂
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This mirrors my experience. The more trust I have, the easier it gets. Thanks, Jane!
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It’s definitely why it’s called “practice” and not “I already got this down.” I see you floating next to me on this current Lorri and I’m grateful!
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beautiful, thank you ❤
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